§ Mr. Sandelsonasked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement concerning the future of private patients within the Health Service in Northern Ireland.
§ Mr. MasonThe Government issued a consultative document in November 1977 in which it was said that, while policy on private medical practice in Northern Ireland must be consistent with the policy enacted by Parliament in respect of private medical practice in Great Britain, the Government were prepared, in pursuing this policy, to take account of differences in the circumstances of Northern Ireland and to adopt procedures considered most appropriate to local circumstances.
The Government invited comments from a wide range of interests, including professional and trade union interests, on the options set out in the document, and I have now considered carefully the views expressed. The great majority of those expressing an opinion in Northern Ireland favour the implementation of the policy within the framework of existing Northern Ireland legislation, and the establishment of an independent committee, constituted on the same lines as the Health Services Board in Great Britain, to advise the Government on execution of the policy in the particular circumstances in Northern Ireland.
I have accepted this view. My noble Friend, the Minister of State, will now therefore take steps to constitute the advisory committee in consultation with the interests involved. In the meantime, 148W as the consultative document proposed, the Government will reduce by a substantial amount the present maximum quota for private patients in health services hospitals in Northern Ireland, to bring the number of beds more closely into line with their actual use by private patients.